"A man taunted and mocked, yet undaunted in his quest for glory."
[Cut to a montage of various clips of Beast, showing him lying bloody on the floor, victorious in a ring, and charging in slow-motion down a hall.]
"A villain seeking to deny him that which he wants most."
[Cut to a montage of Christian Sands clips, as he holds the World Title high, forces a kiss on Lindsay Troy, and sits in a chair smirking.]
"At long last... their paths meet."
[Cut back to the clip of Beast charging down a hall. The clip finishes, ending with him spearing Sands.]
[As soon as the spear connects, the shot explodes into grayscale flame, burning away the image. Behind it, the faces of Sands and Beast appear, shot in profile and staring at each other.]
"Two will enter the cage."
[With a metallic clang, the faces fade, and the steel bars of the cell slam across the screen. The music dies abruptly.]
"One will survive."
[Suddenly, the screen rips away. Cue up: "Flat On The Floor" - Nickelback. The screen completely shreds away, revealing a rapidly shifting blue grid backdrop intercut with video clips of various wrestlers, many leaving blurred after-images as they move.
Cut to Beast delivering a spear to Christian Sands.
Cut to Sands choking out Beast with a RAAHR T-shirt.
Cut to Adam Benjamin delivering the Shining Wizard to Karl Brown.
Cut to Jonathan Marx striding down the ramp.
Cut to John Doe sailing across the ring with a Van Terminator to Bryan Storms.
Cut to Storms delivering the Red Tide Rising to Doe.
Cut to Cameron Cruise and Joey Melton celebrating in the ring.
Cut to Golem and X-Ecutioner brooding in the shadows.
Cut to Blitz stalking down the ramp.
Cut to Dan Ryan sitting in an armchair, gazing thoughtfully into the camera.
Cut to the blue grid, which ceases shifting as a blue filmreel-style strip blazes across it. With a heavy thud of steel, white letters are stamped across the reel, stationary as the reel continues to roll.]
[Cut to a camera at ringside, looking up into the rafters. A pair of blue fireballs glow to life at the top of the Georgia Dome, descending like comets. The camera follows the fireballs as they fall to explode at the foot of the ramp. Towers of blue and white pyro erupt around the entryway and EmpireTron, more showers of white sparks raining from the top of the 'Tron frame. With a series of blue bomblike effects, the pyro ceases, and the camera zooms in on the screen. Cut to wide-angle shots of the crowd. Various signs are visible, held up by fans in different sections of the arena: "BEAST VS. SANDS: THE WAR TO SETTLE THE SCORE!", "I Came To See Big Daddy English", "Hey Golem, I've Got The Precious", "JOHN DOE IS GREAT", "All Hail The Emperor!", "HARDCORE DRAGON", "X MARKS THE SPOT", "Take A Walk, Walker!", "Beast Is A Beast!", "JOEY MELTON SEZ: AGE BEFORE BEAUTY", and finally, "I Want To Have Troy Douglas' Babies".]
[The cameras cut across the blue-neon cages of the Empire Girls - Candy, Tiffany, Ruby, and Miyoko, holding on each for a moment as they dance much to the delight of the straight men in the audience.]
[Cut to ringside, where the announce booth has been set up, occupied as always by Dave Thomas and Mike Neely. Thomas has exchanged his golf shirt for a nice suit, while Neely's gone in completely the other direction, wearing jean shorts and a pineapple-patterned Hawaiian shirt. The fans behind them are waving and trying to get into the camera shot.]
DT: The sold-out Georgia Dome is on FIRE tonight, and with good reason! Welcome, everybody, to Empire Pro Wrestling's UNLEASHED, live on Pay-Per-View! I'm Dave Thomas, and with me as always is Mike Neely!
MN: Look at the CROWD in here! It's huge! I'm half-expecting people to start hanging from the rafters to fit in here!
DT: Well, can you blame 'em with the great lineup we've got for you tonight?
MN: No.
DT: Speaking of which, take a look above the ring.
[Cut to a shot of a steel cage hovering above the ring.]
DT: And there is is. The ominous steel cage, hanging there in preparation for our main event this evening!
MN: You mean the one where Beast loses AGAIN?
DT: Oh, quiet. That's coming later in the evening, folks, as Beast challenges Christian Sands for the World Title inside that very cage!
MN: Challenge. Pah.
DT: We've also got a defense of the Intercontinental Title, as Adam Benjamin faces the challenger Jonathan Marx!
MN: Woo! Big Daddy English versus the Emperor!
DT: As well, the next number-one contender for the World Title will be decided in a match between Troy Douglas, Karl Brown, and Tyrone Walker!
MN: Megatron and the Hardcore Dragon are cool, but that Jedi guy's a dick. What's up with him?
DT: The vacant Tag Titles will be up for grabs tonight in a contest between Blitz, the team of Golem and X-Ecutioner, and the team of Joey Melton and Cameron Cruise!
MN: If it were just the first two, it'd be Geeks vs. Freaks.
DT: As well, we've got a highly anticipated I Quit match between John Doe and Bryan Storms!
MN: Hopefully Storms will step on that little dwarf...
DT: Also on the show, we'll see X and Brian Hale face off. Unfortunately, we regret to inform you that Aodhan Lorigan and Blu Thundarous couldn't be here tonight, as their flight was grounded due to bad weather. Therefore, that match has been pushed through the card.
MN: I bet Thundarous is singin' the blues over THAT one! Hah!
DT: With that in mind, let's go to the ring for our first match - a double debut match, as "The Thriller" Braden Kincaid faces off against "Your Hero" Sebastian Dodd. Take it away, Tony!
TF: The following contest will be contested for one fall! Introducing first...
[CUE UP: “Stellar” by Incubus. After a brief pause, Sebastian Dodd emerges from the entranceway and walks down the ramp to a mild chorus of boos.]
TF: Standing 6’2” and weighing in at 245 pounds, from New York City, New York, “YOUR HERO” ... SEBASTIAAAAAAANNN DOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDD!!!!!!! And his opponent...
[CUE UP: “Shoot to Thrill” by AC/DC as Braden Kincaid makes his way to the ring.]
TF: Standing 6’4” and weighing 260 pounds, he hails from Toronto...Ontario...Canada...he is “THE THRILLER” BRAAAAAAAADEEEENNN KIIIIIIIIINNNNNCAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDD!!!!!
[SFX: Bell Rings]
DT: And Unleashed is underway!
MN: So, this Kincaid guy is supposed to be an action star, right?
DT: Yup.
MN: Riddle me this, Davey. What movies has he been in?
DT: Uhhhhhh....none.
MN: Yeah. Action star. Riiiiiiiight.
DT: Regardless, Kincaid and Dodd start off with a collar and elbow tie-up. Snap down attempt by Dodd, and they break the lock-up. Back to the collar and elbow, and Dodd ducks under, flooring Braden with a nice looking arm drag!
MN: Hero? Maybe not. Cool guy? Definetely.
DT: Mike Neely, keen observer and sharp humorist. Kincaid up, clothesline attempt...ducked by Dodd. Kincaid off the ropes, and he’s met with a BEAUTIFUL dropkick from Sebastian Dodd! Dodd with the clear advantage now, and he drops Kincaid again with a double handed knife edged chop! Dodd now perches on the middle rope.
MN: Looks like the Marcus Johnson wannabe in gonna try and fly.
DT: Axehandle on the way...BLOCKED with an elbow to the gut by Kincaid!!! Left hook from Braden, now a right jab, and a flying forearm drops Sebastian Dodd! Up comes Dodd, and he’s leveled with a clothesline! The Thriller is a house afire!
MN: Now that movie boy’s finally woken up, we can get on with this.
DT: Dodd is up and desperate to regain his momentum. He charges, and Kincaid is taken completely unaware! Running avalanche sends both men crashing to the concrete floor on the outside!
MN: Ooooh. Sounds like something just bent in a way that isn’t natural.
DT: This one has very quickly degenerated into a brawl, folks. But, it’s a darn exciting one!
MN: “Darn”. It’s pay per view, Davey! Don’t gotta worry about mommy telling you not to curse. DAMNHELLBITCHFU-
[Dave Thomas slaps Mike Neely.]
MN: HEY! What was that for!
DT: You said I could do what I wanted on Pay Per View. THAT was what I wanted to do.
MN: Fine, I’ll pay attention to THIS match.
DT: These two are trading blows as referee David Rosenkrantz’s count reaches 5! Kincaid with a head of steam, but Dodd gets the drop toe hold onto the apron! Dodd going to the ropes...SPRINGBOARD CORKSCREW THESZ PRESS!!!! Oh my Lord!
MN: Heheh. That was cool.
DT: Thank you, Butt-Head.
MN: You already hit me, you don’t have to call me names!
DT: You still don’t get it. Sebastian Dodd is the first up, and he scrambles into the ring. The count at 8 now! Kincaid stirs, but the count is at 9! He...JUST GETS BACK!!! Braden Kincaid saved himself a countout defeat!
MN: That MIGHT not have been the best idea.
DT: Dodd is now hammering away with those heavy boots to the back and midsection of Kincaid. Kincaid tries to block, but that just opens up a hole for Sebastian Dodd who locks in the Fujiwara Armbar!!!
MN: Yippee. Rest hold. Gimme a call when something happens.
DT: Uh, Mike?
MN: Yeah?
DT: Something’s happening.
MN: It is? Sweet!
DT: Braden Kincaid has managed to fight his way to a semi-vertical position! Dodd tries to adjust the hold, but Kincaid uses that as an opportunity to shift his weight! He’s got him in the reverse fireman’s carry! What could we have here?
MN: I dunno.
DT: Burning Hammer...NO!!! Inverted Backslide Cradle!!!
ONE...
TWO...
KICKOUT BY DODD!!! But, what a pinning attempt by Kincaid, who dropped Dodd’s shoulder to the mat and locked in a reverse cradle.
MN: Newbie action isn’t THAT bad.
DT: Kincaid setting up for a suplex...countered with a knee to the gut...cradle rib-breaker by Sebastian Dodd! Dodd with the whip into the corner...BIG TIME JUMPING SPLASH!!! Dodd springboards to the top rope, and he hits a spinning leg lariat from the top! Dodd on the rebound...SPEAR!!! Sebastian Dodd is taking over!
MN: Over about describes this match.
DT: Pin by Dodd...
ONE...
TWO...
THRNOOOOOOOOO!!!! Kincaid lifts the right shoulder! OH so close on that one! Dodd isn’t hesitating here, as he’s right back to it with some kicks to the abdomen. Kincaid tries to duck under, GOURDBUSTER by Dodd!
MN: I still don’t know why they call it a gourdbuster. There’s no pumpkins, butternut squash, or winter melons involved.
DT: Dodd measuring up Kincaid, he’s going for the superkick! Kincaid is standing...and...he...CATCHES THE RIGHT FOOT!!! Enziguiri attempt...NO!!!! Kinciad caught the other leg and...
MN: This one’s gonna hurt the Hero.
DT: ...INVERTED POWERBOMB BY THE THRILLER!!!!! Braden Kincaid just dropped Dodd flat on his face from about 8 feet in the air!!!! The pin...
ONE...
TWO...
THREEEEE!!!! NO!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Dodd got the foot on the ropes!!!
MN: I don’t freaking believe these guys!
DT: Kincaid on the prowl now. He has Dodd in the standing headscissors. Up he GOES...and Dodd flips out of it by calling up the ashes of Bruce Lee with a modified wall flip off the torso of Braden Kincaid!!
MN: Maybe THIS guy should be the one in action movies.
DT: Dodd sprinting towards the corner, he leaps, springboard moonsault...Kincaid does the Matrix back arch to avoid impact!!! Dodd landed on his feet and he’s staring down Kincaid again. Kincaid turns...SUPERKICK BY “YOUR HERO”!!! Brings Kincaid up in an inverted facelock...Kincaid slips out! Braden looks for a clothesline...MISSED!!! Dodd floats over, spins it back into the inverted facelock...
MN: I’ve heard of this before...
DT: D-O-DDT!!!!! The pin...
ONE...
TWO...
THREEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! Sebastian Dodd gets the pin!!! What an effort by both men, but in the end Sebastian Dodd’s D-O-DDT was enough to outlast the VERY promising Braden Kincaid.
TF: Your winner, via pinfal... “YOUR HEROOOOOOO” SEBASTIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN DOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!
DT: A big win there for Sebastian Dodd, as he makes a successful debut here at Unleashed. Don't take anything away from Braden Kincaid, though. Both men put forth a hell of a showing, and as far as I'm concerned their futures in EPW look bright.
MN: Yeah, yeah, I hear ya. Now is Kincaid okay? Doddy dropped him right on his Hollywood face!
DT: ...Riiiiiiiiight. Folks, next up we've got a match between X and Brian Hale - but first, let's take a look at a video package!
MN: Oh boy.
[Cut to a video package hyping up X.]